A coalition of 14 state attorneys general, led by New Mexico, has filed a lawsuit to block Elon Musk&rsquo;s efforts to reduce federal spending as the head of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s newly formed government efficiency agency, DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency).
The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., federal court, accuses Trump of being &ldquo;Oblivious to the threat this poses to the nation&rdquo; in granting Musk &ldquo;unchecked legal authority&rdquo; without the necessary authorization from the US Congress.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and the world&rsquo;s richest person, was appointed to lead DOGE to root out wasteful spending in federal agencies. Since Trump took office last month, Musk and his team have been at the forefront of efforts to overhaul the government. However, the initiative has faced significant legal challenges, including privacy lawsuits related to Musk&rsquo;s team gaining access to government computer systems.
The lawsuit argues that Musk was illegally appointed and demands that an order be issued preventing him from taking further actions on behalf of the government. The states involved in the case claim that Musk has been given nearly absolute power by the president, calling him an &ldquo;agent of chaos&rdquo; in government operations.
Adding to the controversy, two federal judges are considering ongoing cases involving DOGE&rsquo;s access to sensitive government data. One case is set to address whether Musk&rsquo;s team should have access to Treasury Department payment systems, which manage trillions of dollars in transactions. A temporary block was placed on DOGE&rsquo;s access to these systems after a request from Democratic state attorneys general. They argue that Musk&rsquo;s team has no legal authority to access systems containing sensitive personal information about millions of Americans.
The lawsuit also raises concerns that Musk and his team could disrupt vital federal programmes, including funding for health clinics, preschools, and climate initiatives. There are additional worries that the administration could use this information for political gain.
In Washington, US District Judge John Bates will soon decide whether unions can prevent DOGE from accessing sensitive records at several federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Labor Department, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Despite these legal hurdles, the Trump administration continues to press forward with its cost-cutting agenda, including mass firings of government workers and a sharp reduction in America&rsquo;s foreign aid programme. The efforts are primarily focused on programmes opposed by political conservatives, even though several of Trump&rsquo;s initiatives have faced setbacks in court.
Trump&rsquo;s administration has also hinted at impeaching judges who block these initiatives, although the president has stated he will comply with court rulings.

A lawsuit has challenged Musk’s authority in Trump’s efficiency agency, alleging unauthorized actions

State AGs Sue to Block Musk’s Role in DOGE

A lawsuit has challenged Musk’s authority in Trump’s efficiency agency, alleging unauthorized actions

February 14, 2025 | 12:06 IST